Ordinance of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau Concerning Occupational Pension Schemes for Employees of Evangelical Parishes and the Evangelical State Church - PERKOS

1. To secure occupational pension provision for the employees working in the church congregations and the regional church, the Evangelical Regional Church of the Canton of Thurgau participates in the foundation "Pension Fund of the Evangelical-Reformed Churches of Eastern Switzerland" (PERKOS) in St. Gallen. The connection agreement dated July 1, 1985, and the pension fund regulations of the foundation are decisive for the relationship with this foundation.

1. The synod is responsible for the regional church's consent to amendments to the deed of foundation.

1. Where this regulation or the pension fund regulations do not specify otherwise, the regional church shall be represented by the church council towards the foundation.

1. The Church Council elects a member and an alternate member as the employer representative to the Foundation Board.

2. The insured elect a member and an alternate member as the representative of the employees, retirees, and pensioners to the Foundation Board. The Church Council orders this election.

1. The Audit Committee of the Synod elects from the members of the Evangelical Reformed Church a representative of the Church to the Audit Committee of PERKOS (Pension Fund of Evangelical Reformed Churches in Eastern Switzerland).

1. The following employees subject to the insurance obligation under the Federal Act on Occupational Retirement, Survivors' and Disability Pension Plans (BVG) must be insured with PERKOS

a. Pastors and deacons of the communities;

b. Holders of regional or national church pastoral offices;

c. Agents and employees of the national church and its institutions;

d. Employees of the church communities.

2. The insurance obligation with PERKOS does not apply to employees according to para. 1 lit. c and lit. d if, due to contractual employment conditions, adequate insurance according to the BVG already exists or if their employer is already affiliated with a recognized pension institution.

3. The church council decides on the exemption of pastors or deacons according to para. 1 lit. a and lit. b from the insurance obligation with PERKOS. It may only be granted if proof of alternative, adequate insurance is provided.

1. The contractual relationship between the Evangelical Church or the church congregations, on one hand, and the employees, on the other hand, shall terminate no later than at the end of the month in which the employees reach the normal retirement age as stipulated by the pension scheme regulations of the Perkos pension fund.

1. The regional church may adjust the pensions disbursed to its insured members or beneficiaries for inflation.

2. The adjustment is subsidiary to any inflation adjustments made by PERKOS. It is decided upon by the synod, upon the proposal of the church council.

1. The Regulation of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau concerning the occupational pension scheme for church employees within the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Thurgau dated December 3, 1990, is hereby repealed.

2. The second sentence of § 47 of the Rules of Procedure of the Evangelical Synod of the Canton of Thurgau is hereby repealed.

1. This regulation shall enter into force retroactively on January 1, 1995.